LAHORE PAKISTAN (2013): CHRISTIANS

There are over two and a half million Christians out of 180 million people in Pakistan. They are the second largest minority here after the Hindus. The three communities that I visited had a similar look to them: a maze of alleys- some barely wide enough for two people to pass at the same time. I stopped by for a visit on election day and compared to the rest of the city it was bustling. When I returned the next Sunday worshippers were packed inside of a church, that was funded by the Salvation Army. It was an evangelical service and the music sounded very Indian, with plenty of hand clapping. Sometimes you meet a person who stops you in your tracks. That’s what happened to me when I met Simi, an 18-year-old woman who is is doing advocacy work around women’s issues. She was recently invited to attend a conference in New York City with other youth from around the world. Now back in Pakistan, she leads a street theater group that helps get the Christian message out.